When someone comes up to you and says thank you for your service, how do you reply. I usually just said thank you. I heard someone who said you welcome. So how do you answer? I started answering by saying  IT WAS MY GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOR TO HAVE SERVED MY COUNTRY. 

 

 

Preston

I'll have to admit, it's only happened a handful of times for me, and the only reason they recognized I was a vet, was because I was in a group of veterans at a ceremony being recognized. So I don't get the random acts of "Thanks" since I don't wear anything that states I am a vet, not that I have anything against it, I just never have. I don't wear a hat or t-shirt that states I am a veteran, so really folks would never know.

But when it did happen at those aforementioned events, I was caught off guard, nothing rehearsed, so I think I stated "It was my honor" or something like that.

41 minutes ago, John Morris said:

I was caught off guard,

exactly..

 

I just say... you are more than welcome... often followed w/ a hand shake..

All the veterans I talk with just smile and say thanks back to me. We often have a brief conversation about what we did, where, and when. Several of us say hi when we see each other again. Some tell me thanks for telling them its OK to talk about bad times. Wives are especially thankful. One woman whose hubby served in hot combat in the 4th Infantry Division in VN told me after I talked with him that he was more elated than she had ever seen him. He introduced me to his grandson as "my buddy." All of us just need to talk. We are all brothers and sisters across several wars. 

hat

At first it bothered me. I belonged to a Viet Nam Vets group and we didn't always get a welcome. When we collected at the red kettle with would sometimes be called names. As the years went by we had sons and daughters in the military or in college. I didn't mind, but still didn't wear anything that would indicate I was a Viet Nam vet.  Now I do wear a big hat to cover my bald head, ears and nose.........order by my Dr. I stuck a small Viet Nam pin on it. I was surprise how many thanked me and shook my hand. At first it kind of overwhelmed me. I just said thank you. I have coffee most mornings at McDonalds with about 6/7 guys. Most are vets, 3 are Viet Nam vets. We have had people, kids too, come up and shake our hands. Some buy coffee.  

 

So I have come to the point now that I am accepting my service and must honestly say i am not proud of all the people we killed, most were civilians forced into combat. However , we (heavy artillery) did save the lives of many, many GIs 

Ron said: When we collected at the red kettle with would sometimes be called names.

 I was discharged form the army infantry in January, 1970 and flew home via Seattle and San Francisco wearing my greens. I never saw any of the angry protests others saw. Nobody spit on me or called me a baby killer.

hat

57 minutes ago, hatuffej said:

I never saw any of the angry protests others saw. Nobody spit on me or called me a baby killer.

 

return to the states commercially in the 60's....

I just give them a "Your welcome."

My close friend in high school made the Army his career. He served three tours in Viet Nam, was wounded, When he came back on a stretcher in San Fran, he was spit on and screamed at.  He was in mental wards several times.  We had a long discussion at a class reunion and I felt so bad for that guy. He died of agent orange damage several years ago

I hate to hear of things like that Ron but I know it happens. At least he had you for a close friend and now he's looking down on us all.

 

Preston

Thank you, I never looked at it that way.